[cynwoody]

English is not a protectionist language.

Its attitude towards imports is: If it's useful, adopt it or adapt it. If not, ignore it.

That works for me.

[Vanders9]

I agree with cynwoody. The great advantage of English is the way it has quite consciously and shamelessly imported words as needed. It has helped it become the de facto world language.

And yes I can understand the French concern about "cultural imperialism" but in the final analysis usage is the ultimate arbiter. The English Language has never stood still and the day it does will be the day it starts to fossilise. If the French are so worried about the purity of their language being compromised, they need to devise some proper French alternative. Or better yet, get some better novelists and playwrights and cultural types to spread French about a bit more.